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get an amateur radio license while I'm at it, too

Do it!! Novice class is dead, you start at the technician level now. Full privleges on VHF and UHF, no code, you can learn what you need in a couple of nights out of the twenty buck ARRL study guide, and a decent hand held is under two hundred bucks. Tests are given almost every weekend at some relatively nearby location. There's half a dozen online sites where you can practice taking the test, using the actual questions. Here's one: http://www.qrz.com/testing.html Got my Commercial third class back in the 50's, and my first in 64. Made a decent living with 'em, too. Ham radio's a lot more fun, though.

Thank you, sweet Lord, no more Morse. I was a spaz on a key - had a better ear for it than a hand - and don't even get me started on a set of paddles. I'd have had my novice ten times over without the dit-dot-dits on the exam. I otherwise thought the ARRL was the shit. Lemme get a few bills out of the way, buy the rifle I've been eyeing, invest in the RV the wife and I have been discussing, and getting my license will be next.

Thanks. The one thing I've been lacking in getting back into it has been the encouragement. I appreciate it very much.